Main Page

From Save Our Schools Hawaii


Help us get this 30 sec TV commercial on the air!
Actions Speak Louder than Words! 30 sec TV commercial
Here is the longer 60 sec version
Actions Speak Louder than Words!

More video at the Save Our Schools YouTube channel

Latest from Sos808 on Twitter:
  • [Sun, 06 Feb 2011 15:14:28] sos808: Just turned on #superbowl halftime, wow! (link)
  • [Fri, 29 Oct 2010 09:00:12] sos808: I uploaded a YouTube video -- Actions Speak Louder than Words commercial http://youtu.be/cCF6pU8v28o?a (link)
  • [Thu, 28 Oct 2010 19:48:28] sos808: I uploaded a YouTube video -- Actions Speak Louder than Words http://youtu.be/nexoD9p1sts?a (link)
  • [Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:58:14] sos808: @francishunt @ktpoy thx 4 the questions, we are citizens who spoke up for the keiki. Marguerite Higa is one of our most active. #becivil (link)
Our Community

Our Inspiration (VIDEO): http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=a49d73fc5f1b5c46601c06


Email Announcements: http://groups.google.com/group/sos808announce

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sos808

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=164621803289

email us: info@sos808.org

Recent Press (updated April 14, 2010)

Two arrested, 8 others cited on day 7 of furlough sit-in

2 Furlough Friday protesters arrested in governor's office

Governor flubbed protest moment (Lee Cataluna)

KITV top story

Sit-in at Lingle's office like "Survivor"

Protesters hold firm on furlough sit-in

KHON2 video: Parents, children stage sit-in protest to end school furloughs

KITV video

Personal video from sit-in

Anti-furlough group stages sit-in at governor's office

Associated Press

New York Times

Guardian UK

Welcome

We are concerned Hawaii community members, students, and parents for quality public education.

Last year's Furlough Friday crisis where our kids endured 4-day school weeks has shown us very clearly that it's time to Save Our Schools. Quality public education is a right for all kids and not an optional budget item.


October 29, 2010

SOS releases Aiona/Abercrombie Furlough Action ad

Please help us get this ad on the air by making a donation to our paypal account. Please use the Donate button on the top right.

Press Release
The grass-roots group Save Our Schools Hawaii today released an educational issue ad to be aired on TV and distributed on the internet. Entitled "Actions Speak Louder than Words," the ad reminds voters concerned about the education of our children to remember the actions of Gubernatorial candidates during the recent Furlough Friday crisis, when 170,000 public school children missed 17 days of school in Hawaii, so that we can avoid a recurrence of that tragedy.

"After watching the recent TV debate between Aiona and Abercrombie, we felt that it was critical, for proper historical context, that we remind the public who actually responded to the public's cries for help to end the situation," said Clare Hanusz, an attorney, mom and member of Save Our Schools.

This ad falls squarely within the group's chosen focus of voter education during this election season. The group had recently sponsored three candidate forums on education ahead of the primary election.

However, SOS had no intention of making an ad for this election cycle. "But we just couldn't stand by and listen to Lt. Gov. Aiona not acknowledge his role and to duck responsibility for his part in last year's furloughs." said Marguerite Higa, another mom and member of Save Our Schools. "After all, he is second in command in Gov. Lingle's administration and was Acting Governor several times during the furloughs. He had the opportunity to end the furloughs, and did not."

TV Coverage of Governor Candidate Forum

If you missed our candidate fora, you can see replay coverage on ‘Olelo Community TV.

Educate Hawaii 2010 - Governor Candidate Forum on Education ID 15704
Date Time Channel Title
9/16/10 Thu 10:30 pm NATV 53 Educate Hawaii 2010 - Governor Candidate Forum on Education
9/17/10 Fri 2:30 pm OAHU 52 Educate Hawaii 2010 - Governor Candidate Forum on Education
9/18/10 Sat 2:00 am VIEW 54 Educate Hawaii 2010 - Governor Candidate Forum on Education

See our Candidate Forums on the Web: 'Olelo Video On Demand

Lieutenant Governor Forum

BOE At-Large Forum

TV Coverage of Lieutenant Governor Candidate Forum

If you missed our candidate fora, you can see replay coverage on ‘Olelo Community TV.

Educate Hawaii 2010 - Lt. Governor Candidate Forum on Education ID 15704
Date Time Channel Title
9/15/10 Wed 11:00 pm NATV 53 Educate Hawaii 2010 - Lt. Gov. Candidate Forum on Education
9/16/10 Thu 1:00 pm NATV 53 Educate Hawaii 2010 - Lt. Gov. Candidate Forum on Education
9/17/10 Fri 12:30 pm OAHU 52 Educate Hawaii 2010 - Lt. Gov. Candidate Forum on Education
9/18/10 Sat 12:00 am VIEW 54 Educate Hawaii 2010 - Lt. Gov. Candidate Forum on Education


TV Coverage of BOE Candidate Forum

BOE Candidates Forum 2010 - Save Our Schools ID 15752
Date Channel Title
9/9/10 1:00 pm Thu OAHU BOE Candidates Forum 2010 - Save Our Schools
9/12/10 10:00 pm Sun TEAC BOE Candidates Forum 2010 - Save Our Schools
9/13/10 6:30 pm Mon VIEW BOE Candidates Forum 2010 - Save Our Schools
9/14/10 2:00 pm Tue OAHU BOE Candidates Forum 2010 - Save Our Schools


Submit Questions to the Candidates

Ask the candidates for Lieutenant Governor or Governor your education-related questions! Especially Needed: more higher ed and early childhood education questions.

Submit your questions here! Keiki and Students submit here Mahalo!

Candidate Forums on Public Education

Candidate Fora Poster

Download the poster PDF here.

The recent Furlough Friday crisis has reminded us all that our elected leaders matter! Come and hear what the candidates for offices most directly responsible for Hawaii's Public Education system have to say in response to our most pressing questions:

  • Monday, August 23, 6:30-8:30PM BOE at-large candidates
  • Monday, September 6, 6:30-8:30PM Lieutenant Governor candidates
  • Sunday, Sept 12, 2-4PM Governor candidates

Venue: UH Architecture Auditorium, The Architecture Building is on University Ave, accross from the Atherton YMCA (corner of Metcalf). Map
Parking: Street parking is free after 6pm, a pay lot is available adjacent to building.
Free and open to the public!

Moderated by Neal Milner, former Ombuds for UH Manoa, Professor of Political Science and noted political commentator. Candidates from all parties have been invited to field questions from the public, especially parents and students.

Please submit your questions here.

The events will be broadcast on O'lelo, more details to come soon.

Co-sponosored by University of Hawaii, American Studies Graduate Student Association and SOS Hawaii. For more information contact The S.O.S. Team


Keiki! We want your questions!

If you have a question you would like to ask any of the candidates for Board of Education, Lieutenant Governor or Governor, let us know. We will select some keiki to ask their question in person at one of our upcoming candidate fora.

Submit your questions here! We will need your parents' contact information for verification. Mahalo!

Honolulu 5K for Kids

Help our schools and get healthy! The inaugural Honolulu 5K for Kids takes place May 1, 2011. From their press release:

The Honolulu 5K For Kids is an event to help promote health and fitness for Hawaii’s children as well as their families to create a more active and healthy lifestyle. The net proceeds from the event will be distributed to the schools based on each individual school’s participation and will be used to help enhance or improve the physical education, play and athletic programs within the schools. The event relies on donations from local businesses and support from volunteers to run the event.

More info at honolulu5k.org.

Honolulu 5K for Kids Poster

Download a PDF of the Honolulu 5K for Kids poster here.

Furloughs are Over!

Furlough Fridays at Hawaii public schools are a thing of the past. Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday declared that with $57 million from the hurricane relief fund and a $10 million line of credit from local banks, teachers and other school workers will be back on the job five days a week next school year...

The solution consists of a four-point plan:

  1. $57.2M from Hurricane Relief funds to end public school furloughs
  2. $2M from ARRA funds for the charter schools (they were not included in the funding bill, specifically).
  3. 6 days from the teachers giving up more than half of their planning days
  4. In a surprising move, a coalition of banks in Hawaii offered to make a line of credit for $10M to the State of Hawaii, at zero interest for one or two years.

Full story at the Honolulu advertiser.

See Governor Lingle's press conference here.


May 25, 2010

"Deal Reached to End Hawaii School Furloughs"

Huffington Post (AP Story) [1]


May 19, 2010

A Photo Journey of the
Save Our Schools Movement in Hawaii


OCT 2009: It began because, on regular school days, students and parents demanded education and walked-in to elementary schools that were shut down because of state budget cuts. We brought knowledge and nourishment to homeless children who had no other choice.


NOV 2009: Parents got to know each other on facebook and google groups, and the missed school days became known as Furlough Fridays. We held vigils at HSTA (teachers' union) Headquarters, we called and emailed legislators, we called the Board of Education and we called the Governor. We called on our state leaders to make the right decisions and we moved our rallies to the Capitol.


DEC 2009: Deciding we could no longer be angry, we inspired hope for quality education by creating art that celebrated schools, education, and knowledge. Most important, we hoped for a resolution that never came and held a candlelight vigil when negotiations broke down again.


JAN 2010: We gathered 1000 Student Voices from around the State of Hawaii about the importance of education and getting keiki back in school 5 days a week.
http://picasaweb.google.com/mail4jen/1000studentvoicesSos?authkey=Gv1sRgCIm8wumxl6vy8wE&feat=directlink


FEB 2010: We continued to help students find their voices and also began to find other parents who wanted a voice too.
1000_Student_Voices 1000 Student Voices

MAR 2010: Yet, the furloughs of our keiki's education continued.


APR 2010: Parents and students were cited and arrested in the name of education.


MAY 2010: As of May 19, 2010 --- furloughs continue.

May 18, 2010

Photos from Last Friday's Teach-In


Final Furlough Friday Teach-In

May 14, 2010
9am-2pm
State Capitol Rotunda</h2>

Teach-In Poster

Download the poster here.

April 21, 2010

ACTION ALERT! Ask Rep Say and Sen Hanabusa to Save Our Schools!

Click here to go to policyninja and make your voice heard!

April 14, 2010

A big day. More parents arrested at the capitol.

Lingle must bring parties together for child-focused solution to furloughs (Hawaii Independent)

Save Our Schools on Hawaii Public Radio (MP3)

Associated Press

Letter to Honolulu Weekly

KITV

KITV

KITV home page

Furlough sit-in protests continue despite arrests

KSRO

Victoria Advocate, TX

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Star-Bulletin

Gov. Lingle has repeatedly stated that the furloughs weren't her idea. Let's see...

Judge blocks Hawaii furlough plans

Unions take legal action against Lingle's furlough

Sign Our Petition

End Furlough Fridays in Hawaii's Public Schools

In order to make up for budget shortfalls, Hawaii's public schools have taken a large hit. The decision was made that over a two year period, students would be furloughed for 34 days. With this decision, Hawaii now has the lowest number of school days in the nation. So far, there have been 13 Furlough Fridays. This means that students are not in school, learning and getting the quality education they deserve.

Sign our petition here.


Add your voice HERE

Hear all the voices HERE

See more 1000 Voices videos on our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/sos808DOTorg

January 12, 2009: Hear the voices of kids from Waianae Boys and Girls Club.

1000 Student Voices Poster

Download Poster

December 3, 2009
Calling all students! SOS wants to know what you think about furlough fridays... Do they help you learn? We are gathering as many voices as we can to highlight student voices and present them to our government leaders. Add your voice to the "1000 Student Voices About Furlough Fridays" campaign! See some examples here. Read the entire press release here.